MAINtermediate

CAL-Main starts off strong this season with the first week only having one forfeited match. Top teams such as n2p, pV, and careface continue to show they have what it takes to be top contenders, and teams like CheckMate and GIMP rise above the ashes and show they have skill. Although Main had a nice start, with its success comes Intermediate's decline. The first week in IM included several dead teams and even more forfeited matches. With the declining division, moving teams up or down would only decrease competition, so teams who were active in IM merged with the Main division. The newly formed CAL-Main should call for an interesting season, for teams such as Re-United, AKA Quickstrafe, Demolition, and Gungho add to the competition with solid rosters and skill. Although some teams may be rejoicing, mid to lower tier IM teams may be worrying. Teams who had potential in IM now have to compete with better skilled teams, so look for big blowouts in the coming weeks. Now, with the IM and M merge out of the way, lets take a look at this week's Top contenders, Potential falls from grace, and Rising teams.

CheckMate

I must admit, I had my doubts about CheckMate, but after destroying returning Main team General Infantry and taking out the CAL-I reform LAN team, KNOX, I would say CheckMate has what it takes to upset top teams and make it deep into the playoffs. CheckMate recently added CAL-Invite and LAN proven player, Polak, to their already solid roster consisting of KillahBeez, Marshall_Drummin, DEANmachine, Cope_, Orbital, and e`nut. This lineup has the experience and skill to take the CAL-Main title, but will teams like careface and pV stand in their way? I would say it's possible, but CheckMate has the momentum and power, so look for them to keep it going next week as they face off against the IM merge to M team Synergy on Anzio. I had the chance to speak with DEANmachine about CheckMate's success and a look at what they will be doing to stay on top.

(BnG|glass) First, please state your name, experience, and position in CheckMate .

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Charlie "Dean machine" Dean, I have played every league in cal including invite, and I am utility, I heavied week1 and sniped week2 and I plan to rifle this week on anzio .

(BnG|glass) So what does CheckMate's starting roster currently consist of?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Starting roster consists of Links sniping, Marshall_Drummin, Polak, dean rifles, orbital and zegermans at heavies.

(BnG|glass) After your huge loss to pV i was a bit worried that xm wouldn't be developed for this season, but you guys have really shown up taking 2 nice wins, one of which beating the very skilled team Knox. Did the loss to pV affect you guys at all?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Well knowing that pV was preseason and it was on sherman, we didn't really practice at all, even though we should have because pV is the team that has the best chance to win cal-main. But us beating knox with only 3 starters really helped boost our confidence and I think if we go up against pV in regular season or in playoffs, we might take it more serious.

(BnG|glass) Last week you guys took out Knox by 8 points. What do you feel you guys have to work on to keep the matches from being so close?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Well I know at one point, we had a chance to cap the well because we had them pushed back to their first, but no one came to help me cap it, and then I got killed and so did they, and we got pushed back. Mainly, we need to work on not dying at the same time, otherwise we just weren't as prepared for that match especially because we had played mcpayne who just came back from like a month break. We did what we could, knox is a hell of a team. We played the best we could, and they played well and we just came out on top.

(BnG|glass) After this week will CheckMate's roster finally settle?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) We have been picking up and dropping players it seems. I'm not sure if we plan to keep cope on the roster or not because hes inactive, but I think with the adding of Zegermans, we should have enough heavies and we should be set for our roster for the rest of the season.

(BnG|glass) With the IM merge to M, what new teams do you see as possible threats to xm if any?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Well, I'm not sure what teams got moved up to main from IM, but the 2 teams that I think we would struggle with is pV and GIMP

(BnG|glass) What will xm have to do to keep their 2-0 record and stay strong this season?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) Practice, we don't really play together much at all, if any with the starting 6. Usually we play on the day of the matches, and the rest of the week I pug and I think the others do as well. Just staying active and together and we should do well this season.

(BnG|glass) Well thanks for your time! Do you have any shout outs?

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) o god lol i wont do any shout outs like for people but put "MURDUH" and everyone will understand

(xm`deanmachine[DoD4CPL]) |!| MURDUH |!|

(BnG|glass) Well good luck to you and the rest of CheckMate this season!

GIMP

GIMP comes into this season as a merge from IM, and they start out nicely. Week 1 GIMP dismantled Sterling, and the next week rolled over G4N on lennon_b2. Even though these teams are also part of the merge, don't let that fool you. GIMP's roster is very similar to that of Team Evolution who competed in CAL-Invite a couple seasons ago. GIMP also competed at CPL with an almost identical roster, so the chemistry should be heating up again. A roster consisting of Heineken, Crono, Crack-a-dono, Disturbed, Gdog, Burrit0, Burskey, and Rooster is developed enough to take a stand this season and put up a fight for the CAL-M championship. I had the privilege to speak with Rstr of GIMP and his outlook on the oncoming season.

(BnG|glass) First off, please state your name, experience, and position in GIMP.

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) Josh "roosteR" Fiedler . Played this is my 5(?) season in cal and I heavy/snipe for GIMP

(BnG|glass) So what does GIMP's starting roster look like for this season?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) Heineken , crono , revolt , burksy , gdog , rstR

(BnG|glass) This roster looks slightly similar to the CPL team Evolution. Does this chemistry help a lot in making GIMP a strong team?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) Most of the team has known eachother for awhile , even the guys that were not on Evo . So yes I guess it helps.

(BnG|glass) So far you guys are 2-0, taking pretty big leads over the teams you have beaten. Do you feel GIMP will be able to continue this on some bigger threats in CAL-M?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) I think we have a chance against any team in main right now.

(BnG|glass) Next week you guys take on pV, probably the biggest threat to any team right now, on Anzio. How confident do you feel about this match and what are you guys going to have to do to win ?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) I think we match up really good with them . I'm good e-friends with most of the team and have known their sniper(excelsis) since our PARA247 days. I think this is going be a great match and who ever has the best team work should take this one.

(BnG|glass) How do you feel about the IM and M merge and what is GIMP doing to prepare better for the larger amount of competition?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) We were gonna screw around in cal o this season then got moved up to cal im then this merge happened. It doesnt bother me that much , one week you'll be playing a great team and the next you'll be playing a ummm not so great team. I guess its kinda like cal o now which we wanted to play so I guess it all works out :) As for what we do to prepare . If we have 6 people in vent we grab the first scrim we see . Then we go into the server

(BnG|glass) What are GIMP's strong and weak points as a team?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) strong : We let revolt kill everything then we cap the flags. Seems to work. weak : I guess our communication in vent could be a little better.

(BnG|glass) Well thats about it for now, thanks for your time! Do you have any shout outs ?

([GIMP]rstR[jetTy]) hey to all the gimps . chris i'm gonna crush you <3

(BnG|glass) Good luck this season!

Ninjas With Puppies

NWP stands in CAL-Main with a FF loss and a loss to Nihilist. NWP's roster consists of Gorilla, Schmiggs, Raving Rabbi, Jbrown, Laura, lowcarb, and others, so how do they have a 0-2 record? I would say it has to be practice. NWP isn't looking so hot to start out and should probably become more active so CAL-IM merge teams don't upset them. With CAL-Invite players Schmiggs and Gorilla, NWP's loss to Nihilist really brings my doubts, but as the season moves forward hopefully NWP can prove me wrong and stand out this season in Main. I had a chance to talk with Schmiggs of NWP and his insight as to what is happening with NWP this season.

(BnG|glass) First, please state your name, experience, and position in NWP.

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Scott Smith, been playing since beta 1.2 back in like 2001 or something, and i'm nwP's sniper

(BnG|glass) What does NWP's starting roster look like this season?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Well that's sort of been our problem this season. We don't have a consistant roster at all. Basically it's been myself, Jackson/Fidy, audio, Madge, foxy, and whoever else shows up basically. After our last match I believe Jackson and audio were looking for another team. But again, it's up in the air.

(BnG|glass) Do you think NWP will be able to stabilize their roster this season and start getting down to business?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) I'd honestly like to think so, the truth is everyone right now has things going on outside of DoD. Some of us are able to not scrim with eachother and still be dominant in the matches. Others aren't as well off in that area. Once the holidays are over and we're all back to normal, if we have don't lose the people I enjoy actually playing with, we should be able to make a late run at playoffs.

(BnG|glass) Last week you guys took a fall to CAL-IM move ups, Nihilist. Is it just a matter of being active and lack of scrimming that caused this? What will NWP need to do to stand out this season?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Basically we had bad decisions on who should have played in the match. We weren't able to hold the apartments with any consistancy at all and basically got outflanked everywhere. Some of us played really well, and honestly some of us shouldn't have even been playing. We need to have a consistant roster, and regardless of who scrims and who doesn't, the best player needs to play.

(BnG|glass) What do you think about the CAL-IM and M merge? Are there any teams that seem threatening to NWP ?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Any teams out of im? Well some of the teams shouldn't have been in IM to begin with. In both ways. Some of the IM teams were easily main material, and unfortunately there are some that should still be in open. Right now with the way we've been performing in matches, we should feel threatened by basically everyone.

(BnG|glass) What are NWP's strengths and weaknesses?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) If Jackson and audio stay with nwP, teamed up with Madge and myself, our rifles are definately our biggest strength. Our biggest weaknesses can be both attributed to our heavy play in matches, and us using the right personell in matches.

(BnG|glass) Are there any surprises in store for NWP this season?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Right now, a win would be a huge surprise to me...

(BnG|glass) Well do you have any shout outs?

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) Shout outs to nwP, RVC, BnG, and whoever else thinks they deserve it.

(BnG|glass) Thanks for your time and good luck this season!

(nwP`Schmiggsisamazing) thanks dude, <3